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Memorandum from the Northern Ireland Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee

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Memorandum from the Northern Ireland Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee Memorandum from the Northern Ireland Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee I write to you on behalf of the above committee to raise concerns regarding the implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) in Northern Ireland and to respectfully request that the Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (NIAC) consider launching an inquiry along similar lines than that announced by the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee on the 31 October 2011. There is a perceived lack of movement with regards to implementing the Armed Forces Covenant in Northern Ireland. Some Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly use Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act to veto any attempt to implement the AFC and some others use it as an excuse to do nothing, This should not mean that we should do nothing as this leaves the Service and Ex‐Service Communities in Northern Ireland at a disadvantage to the rest of the United Kingdom. Something needs to be done (even if quietly) to help and support the Service and Ex‐Service Communities in Northern. Ireland. The NIAC may also be able to help with regards to the AFC Interim Report (2011). It states on page 8 of the report: "Many of the services delivered by Government to members of the Armed Forces Community are provided in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by the Devolved Administrations. In drafting the report, we have taken care to ensure that we distinguish clearly between the situation in different parts of the UK where that is a relevant factor. It will be apparent from the text that our relationship with the Scottish and Welsh Governments is well advanced in these areas, but also that there is further work to be done in building links with the Northern Ireland Executive" It may be that the NIAC could establish what is being done about building links with the Northern Ireland Executive and by whom. On page 14 of the report it also states: "In acknowledging the very considerable progress made, we wish to draw particular attention to two points that we would expect to see addressed in the next annual report to be published in the autumn of 2012, The first is the application of the principles underlying the Covenant in Northern Ireland and, associated with that; the absence of Northern Ireland representation on the Covenant Reference Group, The Annual Report reflects this point but it is one which we hope could he addressed with the devolved administration sooner rather than later". It would be very helpful if the NIAC could address these two very important points. I look forward to your response. February 2012 Further memorandum from the Northern Ireland Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee About Us Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees (VAPCs), are statutory bodies established by government to support the Veterans’ community of ex‐Servicemen and women, war widows (ers) and their dependents. Members, all volunteers, are appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence but the committees are independent of both the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The committees, formerly known as War Pensions Committees, were established in 1921 in the wake of the First World War. Their role was to assist the Ministry of Pensions. Members adjudicated on and administered grants to disabled ex‐Servicemen and also organised the care of widows and neglected children. They also monitored the Government’s administration of the War Disablement Pension Scheme. Although both the title of the committee and its responsibilities have changed, ensuring that Veterans and their dependents are aware of the benefits to which they are entitled under, for example, the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Schemes, remains central to their role. There are now 13 VAPCs organized on a regional basis throughout the United Kingdom, with separate committees in the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland. In the latter, the Secretary of State appoints six members and the remainder are from ex‐Service charity organisations. Many VAPC members are ex‐Servicemen and women. Their role is described in detail below. The Role of the VAPCs 1) Raising awareness The VAPCs raise awareness, especially at local level, of the support available to Veterans via the: a) War Pensions Scheme, b) Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, c) SPVA Veterans Welfare Service, d) Welfare Pathway and public service provision, e) cross‐government support to both Veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces and their families 2) Assisting The VAPCs assist the Veterans community by a) acting as advocates for the implementation of cross‐government support to injured personnel, their dependants and Veterans. b) highlighting gaps or issues in provision of services and feeding these back through SPVA or any mechanism subsequently put in place by the providing Department or organisation. c) understanding the welfare provision network in their local areas and assisting Veterans and dependants in accessing local services as envisaged under the Service Personnel Command Paper. d) working with all parties to assist individual Veterans and their families when they are unable to obtain the required support and are experiencing difficulty in accessing services. e) referring individual Veterans and their families to SPVA Welfare for assessment where appropriate. f) monitoring the SPVA welfare service and liaising with other organisations with a view to ensuring the welfare needs of veterans and their dependants are addressed. 3) Advising and representing The VAPCs can advise and represent Veterans: a) who have problems or complaints regarding their War Pensions or the AFCS claims process where there is no formal recourse to an independent body. VAPCs liaise closely with SPVA. b) by offering an independent explanation of a scheme as it relates to an individual Veteran, assessing issues in response to specific complaints. c) by providing a formal independent review of complaints by convening an Independent Complaints Panel where necessary, as outlined by the SPVA complaints procedure. 4) Recommending The VAPCs play a part in consultation processes which affect Veterans by a) acting as a conduit for local consultation by Ministers, the MOD and the SPVA on issues affecting Veterans who receive a pension from either the War Pensions or Armed Forces Compensation Schemes. b) Commenting on policy initiatives put forward by government. Northern Ireland Armed Forces and Veterans Community: We believe that the Veterans and Armed Forces Community in Northern Ireland are disadvantaged compared to their counterparts in the rest of the UK. Some would say that Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act is a barrier and that it should be amended. Our concern is the apparent lack of Political interest to either allay these fears or to actively address the issues. Other devolved administrations have put mechanisms in place to address the needs of veterans but there does not seem to be any movement by the administration in Stormont. Communication has been entered into with Members of Parliament and Government Ministers but the response has been that this falls within the remit of Stormont. It is alarming to note that, the NI Executive failed to respond to a request for their input into the “Armed Forces Covenant” Annual Report 2012. On 28 June 2010, the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill was introduced as a private Member’s Bill by Mr David McNarry, however the administration at Stormont did not endorse this. In addressing the COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER on 12 January 2011, Mr Bob Collins (Equality Commission for Northern Ireland) stated: “As far as the remit and interest of the Equality Commission is concerned, it appeared initially as though what was represented as the intention of the draft Bill may have been in some conflict with equality legislation. However, on the face of it, after careful reading, the Bill seems not to conflict with any equality or anti‐discrimination legislation.” What is concerning to us is disparity and disadvantage, we as a body are not calling for preferential or priority treatment for the Armed Forces Community and Veterans, all we ask is for parity with other Armed Forces Communities and Veterans throughout the rest of the UK. If we may give some examples where we believe some progress could be made. Housing In England, Scotland and Wales a high priority is given for adapted social housing for seriously injured service leavers. Employment Spouses of service personnel are disadvantaged on posting to Northern Ireland. CRB checks are not valid in Northern Ireland. Education Family can apply for a school place on receipt of a married quarter address but a supernumerary place cannot be applied for by the school until the child is resident, this can lead to a gap in education and does not instil a seamless transfer. Health Service people with severe genital injuries are guaranteed three cycles of IVF in England, two to three in Scotland and two in Wales. In Northern Ireland eligible couples are offered one IVF treatment. Links between the Armed Forces Community in NI and Departments of the NI Executive. Some informal links probably exist but are not necessarily trumpeted as otherwise they may attract adverse reaction from political opponents. 38 (Irish) Bde is the regional infrastructure organisation which has responsibility for all serving personnel. Reserve Forces & Cadets Association NI (RFCA NI) has responsibility for reservist employment issues and it has been suggested in Parliament
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